2011 Overall Winners Brisbane

BRANDON BINNIE - ARTS EDUCATION WINNER 

Brandon was one of only three Australians selected for an International Science Summer School in Germany last year.

There he spent three weeks at the German Cancer Research Centre studying DNA Methylation - that is what turns genes on or off in cancerous cells and tumours.

Brandon worked alongside scientists and conducted experiments looking at the mechanisms behind the development of cancer. He then prepared and presented his findings to the Centre for Molecular Biology.

Brandon also achieved an OP1, was in the Grace College Senior ‘A’ debating team that made the state finals and was a delegate at the Brisbane Model United Nations Conference.

MATTHEW GROVES - COMMUNITY WINNER (accepted by his mother Claire)

For six months Matthew lived a remote part of Vanuatu, volunteering his time to help educate those less fortunate.

Matthew took essential stationary items with him and lived with a family whose home had no electricity, running water, modern communication and just basic food.

But Matthew learned the native language and so impressed villagers he was invited to attend their cultural ceremonies.

YOLANE KUKLA - SPORT

It has taken just three years for Yolane to become an international champion.

After injury ended a promising gymnastics career, she turned to competitive swimming and in October won the 50m freestyle at the Commonwealth Games in Delhi.

In the games trials Yolane also beat the 2009 world 50m butterfly champion Marieke Guehrer - and at the Australian Short Course Championships won the 50m freestyle.

There were further medals at the Pan Pacific Championships and Junior Pan Pacs – and Yolane is now preparing for her first crack at the world championships, which are in Shanghai next month.

FREAK MORICE - GROUP ACHIEVEMENT